The Darien Children’s Library invites all kids ages birth to 12 to participate in this year’s Summer Reading Club, “Mystery on the Darien Express.” Registration begins Monday, June 4. Participants who register between June 4 and 14 will be entered into a special prize raffle. The Library will draw a winner on Friday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m. Every child will receive a free book when signing up for Summer Reading.
The Library offers two Summer Reading options for children: one for pre-readers and one for independent readers. Pre-readers ages 5 and under are welcome to join the “Read to Me Club” and use a Read to Me Log to record all the books read together. For every 10 books they share with a grown-up, children will be entered in a special Read to Me Club raffle.
Independent readers up to age 12 are invited to join the Mystery on the Darien Express Reading Challenge. Each participant will receive a Railway Route that consists of 11 reading challenges and five physical challenges. Kids will fill out their own Railway Route each time they visit the Library. Riders who complete their Railway Route by Tuesday, Aug. 14 will be entered into a Grand Prize raffle, which will be drawn at the Summer Reading Finale Party on Wednesday, Aug. 15. Riders may choose a prize at each “station” they reach on the route. In addition, children may choose to solve the Mystery of the Darien Express. Clues will be given at each “station” they reach on the Railway Route. Riders who solve the Mystery of the Darien Express will be entered into the Grand Prize Raffle for a second time.
The Library’s Read to Me Finale Concert is slated for Friday, Aug. 10 from 11 - 11:45 a.m. in the Louise Parker Berry Community Room and will feature Brooklyn-based music project Mil’s Trills. Participants in the Mystery on the Darien Express (grades K-6) are invited to the Finale Party in the Library’s Courtyard on Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There will be music, raffles, food, games, and photo-ops. The winner of the Mystery on the Darien Express Reading Challenge will also be announced. Registration for this party will begin Wednesday, Aug. 1.
The Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Rd. in Darien, Conn. For more information, phone (203) 655-1234, or visit darienlibrary.org.